What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantNeopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
EmollientGlycereth-26
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
SmoothingSorbitol
HumectantHydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningSalvia Hispanica Seed Extract
EmollientOcimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
TonicBetaine
HumectantAvena Sativa Kernel Extract
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantTuber Magnatum Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantDisodium EDTA
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningSodium Palmitoyl Proline
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningNymphaea Alba Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
HumectantGlycine Soja Oil
EmollientSaussurea Involucrata Extract
HumectantPanax Ginseng Root Extract
EmollientNelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningLilium Candidum Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLeontopodium Alpinum Extract
Skin ConditioningHouttuynia Cordata Extract
Skin ConditioningFreesia Refracta Extract
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBellis Perennis Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingPotassium Sorbate
PreservativeBixa Orellana Seed Oil
EmollientTocopherol
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingLinalool
PerfumingHexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingCitronellol
PerfumingWater, Dipropylene Glycol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Sorbitol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Persea Gratissima Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Betaine, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Butylene Glycol, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Adenosine, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Freesia Refracta Extract, Carbomer, Bellis Perennis Flower Extract, Arginine, Potassium Sorbate, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Parfum, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Citronellol
Citrus Junos Fruit Water
MaskingWater
Skin ConditioningMacadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin ConditioningSimmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantCentella Asiatica Extract
CleansingTocopherol
AntioxidantDunaliella Salina Extract
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
MaskingCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
MaskingAmyris Balsamifera Bark Oil
MaskingCitronellol
PerfumingGeraniol
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingLinalool
PerfumingCitrus Junos Fruit Water, Water, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract, Tocopherol, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Citronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".
Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.
Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.
Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,
Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.
Learn more about CitronellolGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed OilLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water